A toss of the coin

Last night in Iowa:

Jason Noble ‏@jasonnobleDMR
I’ve come across three instances in which a Democratic caucus delegate was awarded with a coin toss. Hillary Clinton won all three. 10:50 PM – 1 Feb 2016

This is not a new concept. For instance, in Missouri:

Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 115
Election Authorities and Conduct of Elections

Tie vote in primary election, procedure to be followed.

115.515. 1. If two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for nomination as a party’s candidate for any federal office, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor, circuit judge not subject to the provisions of Article V, Section 29* of the State Constitution, state senator or state representative, and a higher number of votes than any other candidate for the same office on the same party ballot, the governor shall, immediately after the results of the election have been announced, issue a proclamation stating the fact and ordering a special primary election to determine the party’s nominee for the office. The proclamation shall set the date of the election, which shall be not less than fourteen or more than thirty days after the proclamation is issued, and shall be sent by the governor to each election authority responsible for conducting the special primary election. In his proclamation, the governor shall specify the name of each candidate for the office to be voted on at the election, and the special primary election shall be conducted and the votes counted as in other primary elections.

2. If two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for nomination as a party’s candidate for any other office, except party committeeman or committeewoman, and a higher number of votes than any other candidate for the same office on the same party ballot, the officer with whom such candidates filed their declarations of candidacy shall, immediately after the results of the election have been certified, issue a proclamation stating the fact and ordering a special primary election to determine the party’s nominee for the office. The proclamation shall set the date of the election, which shall be not less than fourteen or more than thirty days after the proclamation is issued, and shall be sent by the officer to each election authority responsible for conducting the special primary election. In his proclamation, the officer shall specify the name of each candidate for the office to be voted on at the election, and the special primary election shall be conducted and the votes counted as in other primary elections.

3. As an alternative to the procedure prescribed in subsections 1 and 2 of this section, if the candidates who received an equal number of votes in such election agree to the procedure prescribed in this subsection, the officer with whom such candidates filed their declarations of candidacy may, after notification of the time and place of such drawing given to each such candidate at least five days before such drawing, determine the winner of such election by lot. Any candidate who received an equal number of votes may decline to have his name put into such drawing.

[emphasis added]

§ 115.517 RSMo applies to general elections.

Last year in Nevada, Missouri:

And the winner is …
Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The result of the April 7 city council was determined to be a tie between [sic] Ryan Watts and Michael Brown, for second place when the Vernon County Clerk finished canvasing the vote. City Clerk Bev Baker told Watts and Brown the election could be decided by a run-off election or a coin toss or drawing of names. The candidates opped [sic] for a coin toss, which was conducted at 10 a.m., Monday, in the council chambers….

[….]

Yes, the statutes are from Missouri. The Iowa presidential caucus is a political party enterprise and, I assume, the rules are understood by the candidates and their campaigns. The logistical problems (and costs) of a run-off caucus for the state party for a precinct with a tie are significant.

A coin toss to resolve a tie is not a new concept in American politics.

A win is a win.